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Monday, May 12, 2014

Thanksgiving for My Time in Seminary

This week marks the end of another new beginning for my
family and me. After many years and much hard work I am finally walking across
the stage (twice) and graduating with two masters
degrees this week. First, I am graduating with a Masters of Divinity in
International Church Planting from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Second, I am graduating with a Masters of Arts in Intercultural Studies from
the College at Southeastern.

The journey and adventure of seminary was not an easy one,
but an irreplaceable experience because of all that I got study, professors
that I sat under, and the experience of a lifetime to be sent out as a church
planter to South Asia. In many ways it was always a love/hate relationship, but
mostly love.

I finished my M.Div. a year ago so in many ways to be
graduating as far as the ceremony feels anti-climatic, but I just submitted my
thesis for the M.A. recently, which now will allow me to graduate with both
degrees. Earning two masters is never something I set out to do, but the right
doors opened and I walked through them.

Regularly I have guys reach out to me and ask me whether or
not they should attend seminary or if it is necessary to be in ministry. My
typically response is that I wondered these same things myself six years ago so
I slowly started and realized it is where I needed to be. At the same time
though I do not believe that one must attend seminary to be qualified to be in
ministry. Many other guys may disagree with me, but it is not biblical and many
people in ministry around the world will never have the opportunity to attend
seminary.

Looking back on when I started seminary as a young married
guy with no children, life has changed a lot in the process. I have studied
hard parts of Scripture that I would have likely never studied on my own. I
have taken professors who I will forever be thankful for and whose books and
blogs I regularly read. I have made friends that will last a lifetime. And I
feel as if my equipping and preparation have really just started now, two
masters degrees later.

Although one does not have to be part of the Southern
Baptists denomination to attend Southeastern, I started and finished a member
of a Southern Baptists church. I must give proper thanks where it is due. Thank
you to the cooperative program for allowing me to receive half off of my
tuition up front. Thank you to the Charles B. Keesee foundation for the
scholarship of those like myself and covering the majority of the rest of my
seminary expenses. Thank you to local SBC churches for giving to the
cooperative program and Lottie Moon, which allowed us to serve with the IMB the
last couple of years with most of our expenses and healthcare being provided. And
thank you to my local church, the Summit, for equipping and sending us out in
partnership with both Southeastern and the IMB.

I cannot say with certainty that this will be the last time
that I will be a student in the traditional sense, but a break is in order for
now as I seek out what is that God has for me next in life and ministry. Be
sure to check back in this week as I blog on some other reflections that
lessons learned through my seminary experience.